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Project Noah Nature School
A Hersiliidae (Hersilia or Tamopsis) spider that camouflages itself well against this tree bark. Hersillidae spiders species each specializes in camouflaging at different tree species. They are easily distinguishable by their extraordinary long spinnerets and short 3rd pairs of legs. They wait still on the tree trunk waiting for small insects to climb by near it then it traps them by spinning silks around them by running around their prey. Try spotting it in the last picture, test out your spotting skills and see how perfect is it's camouflaging technique.
Forest trees that matched it's patterns and colours in Kinabalu National Park, Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia.
I have so far found about 3 or more Hersiliidae species in Sabah. I am looking forward to find all of the 7 species in Borneo plus discover new Hersiliidae species. This is a new species for me. I have never seen this and could not find this outside of Kinabalu Park. Spotting Hersiliidae spiders requires great skills and good eyesight to spot it against tree trunk that matches it really well. If you are lazy to look for them carefully with your eyes, just wave your hand around near the tree to frighten them so that they will move and break their camouflage. 4th picture from obtained from my dad. >>>Map accuracy : 15m radius.
Spotted on Dec 16, 2009
Submitted on Nov 29, 2011
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